How Many Babies Do Rabbits Have?

Here at Hobby Farm Heaven we love baby animals, especially baby rabbits.

And right alongside loving these newcomers to our homestead, it is important to know what to expect so that you can properly tend and care for them!

So, if you are thinking about breeding rabbits or have a doe expecting babies, you may want to know: how many babies do rabbits have?

Rabbits can have as few as 1 baby and upwards of 18 babies, but the average for rabbits is 7 babies.

Adorable baby bunnies shown in the video below!

How Many Babies Do Bunnies Have

Rabbits are a prey animal, not a predator. They are food for many predators in many habitats around the world. As such, they have evolved to breed and multiply very quickly.

Rabbits have a lot of babies, that is true. Hence the famous phrase, “breeding like rabbits!” Which can apply to any situation where a living organism is reproducing at an above average rate (my late wife and I have 8 children, so I’ve heard the phrase a few times!).

Now rabbits usually give birth to about 7 babies. The number of babies can range from 1 to upwards of 18 babies.

In fact, one of our does once had 18 tiny babies, although only 10 survived!

What Are Baby Rabbits Called

A baby rabbit is called a kitten, or a kit. And while on the topic of rabbits and baby bunnies it’s probably best to review some terms associated with rabbits and their babies.

What Is A Female Rabbit Called – A female rabbit is called a Doe. Example: The doe gave birth to 7 baby rabbits.
What Is A Baby Rabbit Called – A baby rabbit is called a Kitten, or a Kit. Example: The doe nursed her 7 kits the night after they were born.

What Is A Group Of Newborn Bunnies Called – A group of newborn bunnies is called a litter. Example: My rabbit just gave birth to a litter of 5 kits.
What Is It Called When A Rabbit Gives Birth – When a rabbit gives birth it is called Kindling, or to Kindle. Example: We had 3 does kindle in June, resulting in 20 kittens.
What is a male rabbit called – A male rabbit is a Buck. Example: The buck does not need as much protein or calcium as a nursing doe.

How Many Babies Do Rabbits Have In A Litter?

Rabbits can have from 1 to upwards of 18 baby bunnies in a single litter. The average number of baby bunnies, or kits, in a litter is 7.

Here are some specifics:

Rabbit Health – a healthy rabbit with low stress, proper nutrition and good cage or hutch hygiene will certainly tend to have more and healthier kits than a rabbit who is stressed, or has poor nutrition or hygiene.

The birth weight and survival rate of the healthy rabbit’s kits will be higher than those of a less healthy rabbit.

Small Breeds – may average just 2 kits per litter.

Medium Size Breeds – average 7 kits per litter.

Large Size Breeds – average 12 to 14 kits per litter.

How Many Babies Do Rabbits Have In A Lifetime

How many kits a mother rabbit may have in a lifetime is an interesting question to ponder.

To answer this question let’s establish some basic assumptions that are reasonable. We’ll look at the case of a domestic rabbit, a pet that is cared for by a loving owner.

Some rabbits can begin breeding when they are as young as 3 or 4 months old, but our loving owner is making sure that the rabbit is fully grown and matured, both inside and outside, before breeding.

So we’ll say that the rabbit begins breeding at 8 months of age and can breed for 3yrs; until she is 3 years and 8 months old. Now rabbits are pregnant for about 4 weeks.

And this owner does not rebreed, or breed-back, the mother rabbit until her babies are 8 weeks old, and gives the mother a 2 week break each Christmas!

Given these assumptions, every 12 weeks the doe or mother rabbit kindles an average litter of 7 rabbits. So, in a year she kindles 4 times, resulting in at least 28 kits per year. And if she is bred consistently for 3 years, then she gives birth to at least 84 bunnies during her 3 year career as a mother!

How Many Babies Do Rabbits Have In Their First Litter

In our real life experience, this number varies tremendously. Some rabbits have a robust first litter of 10 or 12 healthy kits. Other rabbits have a very small first litter of 2 sickly or even still born rabbits.

Overall first litters do tend to be smaller, as in fewer kits. As the mother matures and has more litters, the average number of kits will likely grow.

Then as the mother rabbit ages and begins to approach the end of her bunny bearing years, she will begin to have fewer kits per litter. The rabbit who has a robust and healthy first litter is very likely to continue to have average or robust, and healthy litters.

The rabbit who has a weak or sickly first litter may also have a weak second litter. In this case you may choose not to breed this rabbit.

Alternatively, often enough the rabbit who had the sickly first litter will then have an average or above average size, and healthy, second litter. The lesson here is to not give up on a mother rabbit after just one litter. Sometimes the rabbits just need a little experience.

Do The First Litter Of Bunnies Usually Die

No, typically the first litter of bunnies does not die. In any given litter, one, two or more baby bunnies may die. In our experience it is rare that the entire first litter would die.

Often first litters are a below average number of kits and the kits may be below average weight.

How Many Babies Do Mini Rex Rabbits Have

Mini Rex rabbits are small. They have an average of only two baby bunnies.

How Many Babies Do Lionhead Rabbits Have

Lionhead rabbits are a petite breed and average only two baby bunnies in a litter.

Do Rabbits Give Birth to All Babies At Once

Yes, the babies or kits are borne from the mother rabbit’s womb one at a time and usually come one right after the other. To be clear, all of the babies in the litter do not show at the same time. They come one at a time, but fairly quickly.

When Do Rabbits Have Babies

Rabbits can breed and become pregnant as early as 3 months old.

Rabbits have a 4 week gestation, or pregnancy, after which they give birth to a litter of furless, blind and deaf baby bunnies.

Mother rabbits can become pregnant just hours after giving birth to a litter of babies.

Fantastic Video!!

How Many Nipplies Does a Female Rabbit Have?

A female rabbit usually has 8 nipples. Some females will have 6 and others will have 10. Interesting that it varies a bit .

Are Baby Rabbits Born With Fur?

Rabbit kits are born without fur and their ears and eyes are not yet open.

Here are two interesting facts about rabbits in the wild!

Some 44 percent of newborn cottontails die during their first month of life, and only 20 to 25 percent live to 1 full year. About 85 percent of the population dies each year. Their bodies become food for predators and scavengers.

It has been estimated that 10 cottontails are killed annually per 1 mile of road in Missouri.
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-cottontail-cottontail-rabbit

Final Thoughts on How Many Babies Do Rabbits Have?

Rabbits are a prey animal that provide food for many predators around the world. It makes sense that they have evolved to breed and multiply very quickly.

Baby rabbits are called kittens or kits and small breed rabbits average just 2 kits per litter, medium breed rabbits average 7 kits per litter, and large breed rabbits average 2 to 14 kits per litter.

Litter sizes tend to increase as mother rabbits have more litters. Eventually, litter sizes trend smaller as a rabbit progresses toward the end of her bunny birthing years.

Finally, healthy and happy mothers have larger and healthier litters. So love on your does with proper nutrition and exercise to encourage fit and healthy baby rabbits!